10 destinations you might not have thought of, but the whole family will enjoy.
Published: December 31, 2023
By: Paige Townley
A new year means new opportunities for making memories and having fun with the family. Best of all, you don’t have to travel far from Birmingham to do it, and there are so many opportunities within the Magic City, as well. Here are 10 destinations you might not have thought of, but the whole family will enjoy, so be sure to get them into your calendar in 2024.
Alabama Museum of Natural History
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
The University of Alabama may be known for its athletic and educational history, but it has been home to the Alabama Museum of Natural History for decades. The museum includes exhibits that speak to the state’s natural history, including exhibits of the first fossils found in Alabama. Of the thousands of specimens that can be found in the museum, some of the most notable include the Hodges Meteorite, Coal Age Alabama, and a 60-foot skeleton of an ancient toothed whale, which has served as the state fossil of Alabama since 1984.
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
Mobile, Alabama
http://www.ussalabama.com/explore/uss-alabama-battleship/
The USS Alabama has a storied and well-documented past. The battleship started in 1940 and began its adventure just three years later in World War II. Once serving as home to a crew of 2,500, USS Alabama earned nine Battle Stars and received the nickname the “Mighty A” for its service during World War II. In 1965 the ship opened as part of USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. Since then, more than 15 million visitors have trek to Mobile to tour the famous battleship and check out the Park’s many artifacts, exhibits, and displays that celebrate and honor the United States Armed Forces.
College Football Hall of Fame
Atlanta, Georgia
The mecca for all things college football sits in the heart of downtown Atlanta, an easy drive from the Magic City: the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame. Along with a 45-yard indoor football field, the 95,000-square-foot venue features more than 50 exhibits that speak to the greatest game ever played. The sport’s 150-year-plus history can easily be explored within these walls, which include three floors and five themed galleries.
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
Birmingham, Alabama
Nestled right in Birmingham is the world’s largest motorcycle museum at Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Officially recognized by Guinness World Records for its vast collection, Barber boasts more than 1,800 motorcycles, including motorcycles from 22 countries and from 220 different manufacturers. In addition to the world’s best collection of motorcycles, visitors can check out a significant collection of Lotus cars and rare racecars at the museum or the property’s 880-acre park, which houses a 16-turn, 2.38-mile racetrack.
Elvis Presley Birthplace Museum
Tupelo, Mississippi
http://www.elvispresleybirthplace.com
It’s only fitting that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll has a dedicated museum to celebrate his life and accomplishments, and that’s the Elvis Presley Birthplace Museum in his hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi. Located on the property is the two-room home in which Elvis was born, his childhood church, a life-size statue of Elvis at the age of 13, and a status of him with a guitar. Visitors can walk the grounds to experience it all.
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
Calera, Alabama
The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum is heavily visited during the holiday season thanks to its ever-popular North Pole Express, but the Calera staple is open for fun all year long. Its museum houses quite the collection of railroad history, with pieces on display that date back to the late 1800s. From steam locomotives and freight equipment to passenger cars, specialty equipment, and even an old depot, the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum is the destination for learning all about railroad history.
Lake Guntersville State Park
Guntersville, Alabama
http://www.alapark.com/parks/lake-guntersville-state-park
Beautiful Lake Guntersville State Park sits along the banks of the Tennessee River in northeast Alabama. The largest lake in the state, Lake Guntersville encompasses approximately 69,000 acres and more than 900 miles of shoreline and is a top destination for fishing, boating, and other water sports. In addition, Lake Guntersville State Park offers 6,000 acres of woodlands and 36 miles of hiking and biking trails, making it a popular spot for camping and outdoor adventure.
Lookout Mountain
Chattanooga, Tennessee
http://www.visitchattanooga.com/things-to-do/outdoors/lookout-mountain
Situated high above the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, at 2,000 feet above sea level is Lookout Mountain. Lookout Mountain provides the very best views of the city below, and while you can travel up the mountain by car, the most adventurous option is the Incline Railway, a one-mile, 125-year-old climb known as the world’s steepest incline railway. An entire day can be enjoyed at Lookout Mountain thanks to its other attractions, including Ruby Falls, the tallest and deepest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States, and Rock City, which sits atop Lookout Mountain and offers incredible views of seven states. Also on site are Point Park, the site of a Civil War battle, and Cravens House, a home that sat near the battle of Lookout Mountain.
Montgomery Zoo
Montgomery, Alabama
Visitors feel like they have traveled the world after a visit to the Montgomery Zoo. Home to more than 500 animals from five different continents, the Zoo features everything from African elephants and Komodo dragons to snow leopards and Bengal tigers. While checking out the 40 acres of landscaped acres, visitors can enjoy much of it with a train ride, stroll through an aviary to spot birds native to the South American Tropics, walk through a reptile house, and even see the Mann Museum, which has more than 275 exhibits of wildlife and 70 exhibits mounted in life-size.
Peabody Hotel
Memphis, Tennessee
The Historic Peabody Memphis is home to one of the most unique traditions of the South: the march of the Peabody Ducks. The tradition dates back to the 1930s, when then general manager of the property and a friend thought it would be funny to place some live duck decoys in the hotel’s fountain. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, and soon after a former circus animal trainer offered to bring ducks to the fountain each day. The trainer taught the ducks the now-famous Peabody Duck March, and the rest is history. Now decades later, the ducks continue to visit the hotel’s lobby fountain each and every day with the march at 11 am and 5 pm.
Paige Townley is a Birmingham Parent staff writer and area freelance writer.